Washington Township Senators 35+

The Washington Township Senators used a combination of pitching in game #1 and hitting in game #2 to defeat the Cherry Hill Reds in the first round of the 2010 NJMSBL playoffs.  John DiPietro pitched 2 hit ball thru 8 innings on Saturday while Jim McAllister went 3-3 and scored 3 runs to lead the Sens to victory.  The game was close until the 5th inning, when Mike Pavlik and Bruce Stowell hit solo home runs to open things up.

Sunday was a bit different, with offense being the theme of the day.  The Senators came back from a 7-6 deficit in the seventh, scoring 5 runs to put the game away.  Ken Bevenour had a big day with a 3 run home run in the first, and 2 doubles, tallying 5 rbi's for the day.  Don Davis had 3 hits as well and 2 rbi. 

The Senators will now face a tough opponent in the Blue Jays, who needed 3 games to get by the defending champion Red Sox.  The Sens took 2 out of 3 from the Blue Jays during the regular season.  Game #1 on Saturday will be at WTHS. 

After 14 years and six championships, General Manager Nick Frese has announced that the Washington Township Senators 35+ team is leaving the South Jersey Men's Senior Baseball League after the 2010 baseball season. The Senators are making this announcement up-front and early, so that everyone will know where the team stands going forward, and so that there are no misconceptions come next Spring.

"This was not an easy decision, as we've spent many great years in what was the premier men's wood-bat league in the area," Frese said. "However, it is my duty to do what I believe is in the best interests of the ballplayers, and I firmly believe the time is right for this move. It's a matter of simple logistics, and of looking to the future."

Actually, it is not known whether the team will even exist beyond 2010 -- that will most certainly be up to the players on it. But if there is a 35+ Senators club in 2011, it is certain they will be playing in the two-year-old NJIBL.

"It's difficult to speculate on what 2011 will bring, as it's a full year away," Frese said. "I sure hope there is a 35+ Senators team next year, yes. But that will depend solely upon what the guys want to do.

"We've been at this a long time, and there may be guys who simply want to hang 'em up. There may be guys who want to move up and play 45+ ball. And there may be guys who do not wish to move to a new league at this time. But let me be clear about this: the 35+ Senators will NOT be playing in the SJMBL in 2011 as long as I am the General Manager of this organization. That ship has sailed. It's the NJIBL or nothing in 2011."

Frese refused to elaborate on his reasons for making this move saying simply that anyone who wants to know, "knows how to reach me and ask." When asked whether things could change if the Senators happened to win the 35+ SJMSBL championship here in 2010, Frese replied, "Nope. Won't matter a lick -- the decision is made, and it is final, and irrevocable."

The disposition of the defending champion 45+ Senators is, at this time, unknown. However, the NJIBL currently does not have a 45+ Division, so speculation is that the 45+ Senators will remain in the SJMSBL in 2011.

Retooled, revitalized, revamped and recharged.

Those are the "four R's" for the 2010 version of the Washington Township Senators.

Four-time champs of the 25+ Division and two-time 35+ winners (the last in 2006), the Nats have stocked the talent pool for another run at the title. 

"We lost some pretty good talent this year with Mark Alessandrini moving on and Dave Koerner and Al McNulty taking the year off," General Manager Nick Frese said, "so we had to step-up our efforts to re-stock. And we were fortunate that several great players became available this year."

And part of the reason for that was the demise of the 35+ Moorestown Marlins, who finally decided to move their core  group upto the 45+ Division.

"While we take no joy in seeing the Marlins make that move," Frese said, "we were fortunate in that Gabe Mastrangelo and Jay Silver both became available, and choose the Senators as their new home. These are two excellent established players, and they will both play huge roles with the club this year."

Silver, who held down third base for the Fish, had the distinction of rapping the only homer off Senator pitching last year, a fact that was NOT missed by the team's brass.

"Yeah, he opened our eyes during that game at Rotary last year," said Ken Bevenour. "We ALWAYS notice players who do well against us, and we sure didn't miss that blow!"

As for Mastrangelo, he has frustrated Senator bats for years, and grabbing him is tantamount to the Phils signing Pete Rose back in 1979 -- you want him ON your ball club, not playing AGAINST it.

"We've all known Gabe for quite some time, obviously," Frese said, "And it is a great thrill to finally have him wearing that red jersey. He brings a true desire to win to the ball club, and I can't wait to see what he does when surrounded with this kind of talent. Should be a lot of fun to watch."

Another signing came from the more distant past, as the Senators were able to lock up Garry Ormsby, the former Maple Shade Dodger great, who was tracked down by Mike Pavlik.

"Garry was one hell of a player back in those days," said Pavlik, "And we had some great battles with the Dodgers in the late 1990s. We always felt Garry was their best player, and to have him with us now is just huge. He is a focused winner, and you can't have enough of those guys. "

Finally, the Nats re-signed an old and dear friend in Dale Amos, who played for the club for several years. Dale is looking forward to being back with the club, and the club is better for it, too.

"Dale is just a fun guy," Frese said. "He plays the game with enthusiasm and always keeps the guys up. I know that having him back will put a smile on the faces of each and every player on the team, and his ability to steal a bag isn't going to hurt, either."

So the roster is final, the stage is set, and in just a few weeks, the words "play ball" will be once again echoing through Washington Township. Let's go Senators!